Syracuse Football vs USC: What can SU gain in a near impossible situation?

One of the great scenes from the movie "Braveheart" is when Hamish looks around at his fellow countrymen after William Wallace "goes to pick a fight" with the English and says...

"Well, we didn't get dressed up for nothing".

That is pretty much what the Syracuse Football team is facing as it gets ready to face mighty USC at Metlife Stadium on Saturday.

Explosive WR Marqise Lee and USC await the Syracuse University Football team Saturday at Metlife StadiumAP

Everyone on that team knows they will have to play near-perfect football to even make this a remotely competitive game against a USC team that has the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy in Matt Barkley, two NFL calibur wide receivers in Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, a 1,000-yard rusher in running back Curtis McNeal and another NFL-level player in running back Silas Redd, a first-round pick worthy safety in T.J. McDonald, and so on and so on and so on.

The $5 million check, the exposure of playing in an NFL stadium, the recruiting benefits, and all the other side dishes of this game is the primary reason Syracuse is making the trip to play a "home game" in New Jersey. And that's fine.

Some SU fans will continue to whine that Daryl Gross has taken a big ticket game out of the Carrier Dome. But doing business the same way is not going to give Syracuse an edge in a world they are behind the college football pack to start with. But, we've been over that time and time again.

The actual game has arrived and even though Syracuse has as good a shot of winning this as Barack Obama has to appear on "The Rush Limbaugh Show", there are a few things I'd like to see once it is all said and done.

1. Let it ride

I wrote last week that Doug Marrone and Nathaniel Hackett may have created a monster with the aggressive passing offense displayed against Northwwstern and they now have the job of not putting that monster back in it's cage.

Here is to letting Ryan Nassib sling it all over the Metlife Stadium turf just as he did a week ago. Trying to keep USC's offense off the field is a difficult task and one that provides fruitless anyway. The Trojans took six seconds to score a touchdown last week against Hawaii. They have the kind of athletes that can score before the words "hut hut" register in the opposing defense's ears.

The best defense is a good offense in this case. If Syracuse can utilize a passing attack that saw nine different receivers catch the ball last week and sustain some drives, then atleast they could soften the offensive attack USC is set to unleash on them.

David Stevens and Alec Lemon have been cleared to play, which will surely help Nassib in the options department vs a quick USC defense.

Let's see that aggression on defense as well. I think if Syracuse has a shot in this thing, they need to create at least four turnovers.

There isn't much you can throw in front of a seasoned QB like Matt Barkley that he hasn't seen or he doesn't already know. The best strategy is just make him uncomfortable when you can with pressure and hope you pop him in the mouth once in a while and cause a disruption that leads to uncharacteristic mistakes.

2. More Ashton Broyld

I wasn't as upset with the "lack" of Broyld playing last week as some were. He hit the field for 7-10 snaps and I think that's a fair expectation for a freshman in his first game, even a dynamic one like Broyld.

But if you are going to pretend to compete with one of the best teams in the country for a few hours, you need your best athletes on the field.

Period.

He needs 10-15 snaps this week on offense. Minimum. And he should never be off the field when Syracuse in the red zone.

3. Strong special teams play

There is no way around it. Last week was a disaster on special teams for Syracuse. But I think what we saw were mostly correctable mistakes and that Syracuse didn't really comprehend how fast Northwestern's Venric Mark really was until they experienced him in person.

They are fully aware the athletes USC has on special teams and have to adjust accordingly. For example, Lee took back a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown last week against Hawaii.

Doug Marrone is coaching this unit now. He embraced the chance to do it in order work with more players on a one-on-one basis. That influence has to show up and show improvement this week. USC is deadly enough on offense. Don't let them own this part of the field too.

Also, I think Ross Krautman is going to be busier than last week. Northwestern's defense, especially the secondary, handed Syracuse a lot of opportunities last week. You get the sense that USC will not, especially with an All-American safety looming back there in T.J. McDonald.

Krautman looked shaky last week, especially on that 44-yard miss. He will surely get a few chances to connect from that range this week. He has to prove last week was just the week one jitters and move on.

4. Stay healthy.

Duh.

Some have suggested on my radio show that the season starts next week against Stony Brook. That is true from a certain point of view.

Even with an 0-2 hole to dig out of, Syracuse has a real chance to get the ship going in the right direction with Stony Brook, Minnesota, and Pitt looming. Stony Brook and Minnesota were winnable games to start, but you have got to smell blood in the water with Pitt after they have stumbled to an 0-2 start losing to FCS-level Youngstown State 31-17 and Cincinnati 34-10.

Even though they have a Lloyd Christmas "you're telling me there is a chance" in this game, let's watch and see what happens.